I guess Russia want Snowden back in the mix so he can leak some more stuffs.

Re chasing the big money behind the rioters, surprise surprise it’s the usual suspects:

Priority number one has to be addressing the growing problem of far-right billionaires supporting the erosion of democracy and outright insurrection because a) They’re unhappy about being asked to pay taxes and b) They believe that they’re entitled for force their eugenic far-right worldview on the rest of us.

Today’s gotta be the day pic.twitter.com/KQnHjvMxfs

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) January 19, 2021

I guess Russia want Snowden back in the mix so he can leak some more stuffs.

Leaking crimes committed by the government against its people should be applauded.

@ thols2, I could visit twitter if I wanted to read random tweats, give it a rest having to post every 5 mins eh.

Bloomberg said Mr Trump was planning a military send-off for himself at Andrews.

We can only hope …

readyaimfire

I’m a gabbler, me.

@ thols2, I could visit twitter if I wanted to read random tweats, give it a rest having to post every 5 mins eh.

That’s a bit harsh isn’t it?

After all thols2 has been a mine of information and insight throughout this thread, often well ahead of the msm.

And that tweet is interesting and relevant as it highlights the consistent failure of Trump to ever do anything on a new healthcare plan, despite his frequent promises and lies. It’s quite funny too.

Regardless, in time honoured fashion I’ll remind you that nobody is making you read it, you could literally just scroll on by..

This is the real problem, Russia, Iran and China etc are almost the distraction for the war being waged on the majority of people by the 1%ers. Like Trump they don’t care that the absoluteness of their greed is breaking down the society that provides them with their wealth. It isn’t about having enough to do everything they can possibly dream of, it is just a way of keeping count of “winning”.

Priority number one has to be addressing the growing problem of far-right billionaires supporting the erosion of democracy

Those sort of people have ruled the World for most of Human history, Democracy for the masses is still a recent thing, and with it their gradual loss of absolute control over the population, their main priority is to kill it.

the population? or democracy?

I’d posit that a fair job has been made of poisoning the well in UK & US. Limiting things to two parties in FPTP certainly cuts down on the number of bribes needed.

I slipped into some right-wing TikToks. They are posting videos of all the security in DC saying things like “this is how they take over… this is socialist communist fascism… why does a beloved president need so much protection?” etc etc

Not one twinkling of an insight that it just might maybe have something to do with the Capitol being stormed by right-wing insurrectionists looking to murder members of congress.

And of course the true crazies are still convinced that the troops are on their side and are going to dramatically turn around on cue and arrest everyone at the inauguration, like some terrible dystopic young-adult fiction. 🤣

That’s why Trump is not attending apparently. Not because he is a petulant man-baby. 🙄

readyaimfire

I’m a gabbler, me

🙂 #BAGF

There is talk of Trump pardoning Snowden.

To do so will probably guarantee that he has an unfortunate “accident” involving a russian tower block and a long fall.

the population? or democracy?

A little from column A, a little from column B, you can’t make a far right utopia without breaking some eggs.

readyaimfire

I’m a gabbler, me.

Underrated post

socialist communist fascism

Well they’ve got all the bases covered. With such a wide appeal how can they fail?

@ thols2, I could visit twitter if I wanted to read random tweats, give it a rest having to post every 5 mins eh.

No, please continue 🙂 I like reading tweets here – I view this thread as a sort of twitter aggregation service, saves me having to trawl through the shite myself.

I also appreciate Thols contributions, Twitter posts included

Me too. It’s my secret guilty pleasure. Never been on twitter or had an account and can spaff off being all high and mighty about not lowering myself to that nonsense whilst secretly enjoying an edited highlights (lowlights?) service here.

Presidential pardons strike me as a sort of corrupt African dictator behaviour that we all scorn at. They really need to ditch the thing.

But he is draining the swamp

There is something on the CNN website about the ideals the founding fathers had for the pardoning process and it was aimed at righting wrongs, EDIT found it https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/18/politics/donald-trump-eleventh-hour-pardons/index.html

Not sure that trump has ever cared about the constitution or the founding fathers etc etc

@ thols2, I could visit twitter if I wanted to read random tweats, give it a rest having to post every 5 mins eh.

Keep ‘em coming please @thols2 – some of us appreciate your input on this thread. I have been pointed in the right direction numerous times from your posts, and read things I wouldn’t have otherwise found.

Not one twinkling of an insight that it just might maybe have something to do with the Capitol being stormed by right-wing insurrectionists looking to murder members of congress.

We finally caught up with last week’s ITV documentary on the Capitol riot. Both scary and eye opening at the same time. The lack of self awareness as they justified using force to secure “their” stolen democracy over the majority of voters wishes.

What truly was worrying was footage of heavily armed militia riding around city streets in the back of puck up trucks in some city in the US, in a carbon copy of what we’ve seen in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, every tinpot dictatorship around the world. If they take control, there will be some atrocities.

On the subject of which, this was a fascinating read….
BBC News – Wilmington 1898: When white supremacists overthrew a US government
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55648011

That ITV documentary was outstanding. Their coverage was better than even the US stations. The Militia you saw taking over the city was Louisville Kentucky I think. It was frightening how the Police just vacated the city centre and ceded it to the militias.

Was also aware of the Wilmington coup in 1898. It lays bare the myth of the long road to emancipation post Civil war. Many States had more Black representation in the late 19th / early 20th Century than they do today. See also the Tulsa incident in the 1920’s.

And for those debating about wether the events at the Capitol were a coup, a self coup, a putsch, an insurrection or whatever, (as many in the media seem want to do) I think the most appropriate term would be ‘lynch mob’.

It’s an eye opener to how fragile democracy is really.  We should already be aware of how fragile everything is after the Yugoslav war and the Armenian troubles at the end of last year but somehow we always think those are different.  It’s getting closer to home 🙁

Another fan of the twitter posts here

The lack of self awareness as they justified using force to secure “their” stolen democracy over the majority of voters wishes.

The thing about the USA is that they have the 2nd amendment stuff drummed into them from all sides, their whole lives. Of course the people should march on the government with guns if the government has gone rogue. A good citizen owes it to the founding fathers, to democracy itself.

From our anti-gun culture over here it would seem unthinkable to march on the Houses of Parliament with guns, but I reckon most of the mob truly believed they were in the right. And frankly, who can blame them? They have been fed a constant diet of outright lies about stolen elections, briefcases, paedophiles and pizzas by people with enormous marketing power. Maybe some others knew it was unjust, but they wanted to ‘own some libs’ (because that is also a praise-worthy activity now).

What happened is that mostly dumb people were weaponised for the interests of the GOP. It’s terrifying to see it happen so ferociously, but it’s not really different from the xenophobia and populism we have over here.

If it were up to me, I’d see that Trump, Cruz, Hawley, Boebert et al are held accountable to an attempted coup, as well as all their staffers and people who acted maliciously in enabling and propagating the big con. And actually, I’d go easy on the protesters who were mostly doing what they thought was right. But I suspect a handful of people will go to prison for a long time, and the architects will be just fine.

Mitch McConnell “ directly blames President Trump for attack on Capitol “.

Oh that would be nice. Where’s that from?

Of course the people should march on the government with guns if the government has gone rogue

To be honest, that’s how “rogue” governments sometimes have to be dealt with, but I don’t understand how losing a democratic election, which has stood the highest legal scrutiny in the land, can be considered as a “rogue government” by any non-brainwashed adult.

Was considering with my lad whether the oath of allegiance/flag ceremony every day at school is a factor in shaping/warping their minds from an early age. Must be the only “democratic” country to do so, surely?

Biden is going to introduce a new “democracy” act, looks quite good, unfortunately doesn’t look to include automatic voter enrolment, which they proposed during opposition. Need to have a more detailed read of the campaign financing part yet, but at least it looks like thay are trying.

https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SIMPLE-SECTION-BY-SECTION_S.-1%20Final.pdf

“this is how they take over… this is socialist communist…”

I remember when we were told that Socialism and Communism would mean that we’d never afford to own our own homes and would have to either queue for hours or pay over the odds for basic goods. I for one am glad that none of this came to pass…

@ thols2, I could visit twitter if I wanted to read random tweats, give it a rest having to post every 5 mins eh.

At the risk of turning this thread into a love-in, @thols2’s posts have been very informative. No complaints here, keep them coming.

Mitch McConnell “ directly blames President Trump for attack on Capitol “.

Of COURSE he does. McConnell is one of the great survivors, effluent floats and so does McConnell. Far better to make the outgoing president responsible than to acknowledge the core of the GOP is rotten.

If it were up to me, I’d see that Trump, Cruz, Hawley, Boebert et al are held accountable to an attempted coup, as well as all their staffers and people who acted maliciously in enabling and propagating the big con…

All useful idiots for sure. The first question that anyone should ask is “who donated to their campaigns?”, follow the money and you’ll find who has enabled these freaks. Some of that money has found it’s way to these shores too.

Oh that would be nice. Where’s that from?</blockquote

Mitch? His opening speech today

That ITV documentary was outstanding. Their coverage was better than even the US stations

The pessimist in me suspects they associated ITV with Britain and therefore Brexit giving the reporters an easier ride.

I am obviously making some large leaps in logic/assumptions

There’s a good interview with the ITV crew on the R4 Media Show podcast. He described how he reduced tension, talking with them about Brits being allies throughout history etc. Worth a listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p093x09w

“The pessimist in me suspects they associated ITV with Britain and therefore Brexit giving the reporters an easier ride.”

TBF, I think ITV struck lucky in that they had a major correspondent and a professional film crew in the building at the time, not sure other networks did, thus their reliance on phone phootage etc. But yes, being British probably gave them an easier ride.

The most exciting thing about the inauguration ceremony is that it should unleash a swathe of prosecutions. I’m hoping that the reason some of the really big fish haven’t been charged yet is to prevent Trump giving them a pardon.

Cruz, Boebert, Hawley, Giulliani…..can you place your right hand on the bible please.

Well…..here’s hoping!

That Mitch McConnell is lower than a snakes belly. Still questioning a 7 million mandate by suggesting the nearly split Senate somehow correaltes to a fair representation of American voters.

The only crumb of comfort is that he suggested some senior figures were culpable whilst not naming them directly and also suggesting that more prosecutions are to come.

. I’m hoping that the reason some of the really big fish haven’t been charged yet is to prevent Trump giving them a pardon.

He can give pre-emptive blanket pardons

Have we done this?

NEW VIDEO #TrumpsNewArmy VOLUME UP

On January 20th Donald Trump will no longer be The Commander in Chief.

He will lose control of the U.S. Armed Forces and take control of a NEW ARMY. pic.twitter.com/59MHHaIegP

— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) January 19, 2021

https://www.newsweek.com/viral-video-warns-donald-trump-take-charge-army-domestic-terrorists-1562580

Here’s hoping the succession of lawsuits for tax evasion and fraud will keep him sufficiently tied up in knots that his two tiny thumbs will be too pre-occupied with keeping himself out of Rykers (other penitentiaries are available)